STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOSEPH CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman CHARLES MAINOR
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen O'Donnell, Caputo, Diegnan, Assemblywoman Jasey, Assemblyman Giblin and Assemblywoman Tucker
SYNOPSIS
Requires firearms to be unloaded and securely locked or stored within home.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning the safe storage of firearms and supplementing chapter 58 of Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Except when lawfully carried on one’s person, a person shall not keep a firearm at the person’s abode, or any premises under that person’s control, unless the firearm is unloaded and:
(1) disabled with a trigger lock or trigger locking device as defined in N.J.S.2C:39-1; or
(2) stored in a securely locked box or container.
b. A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require persons who possess firearms in their homes to keep them unloaded and securely locked within the home when they are not being lawfully carried.
Specifically under the bill, a firearm that is not being lawfully carried must be unloaded and disabled with a trigger lock or trigger locking device or stored in a securely locked box or container. A violation of this provision is a crime of the fourth degree. Fourth degree crimes are punishable by imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.